Improved sleigh-bottom



S. R. BAILEY.

Sleigh Bottom.

No. 85,896. Patented Jamyy 19, 1869@ fwaf Z am? i my .m2,

N. PETERS. Phew-mme 1pm. wnningtan, n. C.

S. R. B`AILEY, OF B'ATl-IVMAINEL Letters Patent No. 85,896, dated .Tanna/ry 19, 1869.

IMPRQVED SLEIG-H-BOTTOM The Schedule referred to in these,Letters' Patent and making part of thename.

To all whom these presents shall come:

Be it known that I, S. R.' BAILEY, of Bath, in the county of Sagadahoc, and State of Maine, have made an invention of certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Sleigh-Bottoms, which I term a truss-ooring; and do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear; and exact ldescription thereof, due reference being had vto the accompanying. drawings, making part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is an under-side view,

Figure 2, a vertical and longitudinal sectionz and Figure 3, a transverse section of the lower .part or flooring of a sleigh containing my improved construction.

, s heretofore constructed, the Vflooring of a sleighhas been secured to its side rails by simply' securing the boards of the floor, at their ends, to the underside of the side rails of such iioor, and subsequently applying a thin, narrow strap of iron over the outer surface of the bottom, from front to rear thereof, for the purpose' of stiffening the flooring to some extent, which, however, proves to be of little effect.

A ooring thus made is capable of sustaining comparatively little Weight, and the lateral thrusts and concussions to which sleighs are subject often separate it from the body.

My invention'relates to means whereby to produce a iooriug for a sleigh-body, which shall possess the characteristics of lightness, strength, and durability, without adding to the `expense thereof; and consists, first, in extending a series of bars or strips of wood, lengthwiseof and from end to end of the sleigh-bottom, and between its side rails, and resting upon the top of the cross-bars which support ,the bottonrupon the runners; and secondly, in applying the flooring in a suitable manner to the upper surface of these longitudinal strips, the whole being as hereinafter explained.

In the drawingsabove mentioned as illustrating my inventionj a. a denote'the side rails of a sleigh-body, and b b, 85o., thecross-bars uponmwhich they rest, such parts being combined together in the ordinary manner, it being ni'derstood that the cross-bars b b are ailixerl to and rest upon the standards or nprights making part of the runners, as common to sleighs now in use.

In carrying out my invention, I apply and secure to the upper surface of the cross-bar b b, and extending l longitudinally from the front to the rear one thereof',

and at suitable intervals between the side rails, to which they about correspondin length, a number of strips, c'

c c, 85e., of wood, or stringere, and steam them, and to the upper surface of these stringers, and crosswise of the same, I apply the boarded d, 85e., composing the sleigh-bottom, such boards being confined'to the side rails and to the stringers by screw-rivets, or n-any suitable manner, it being provided that a small space, e, iset between the extreme ends of the boards d l4 'and the outer edge of the side rails a a, as shown in iig. 3 of the drawings.

The width of this space is about equal to the thickness of the sides of the sleigh-body, which extend into it, thus making a close joint, land giving a highly-finished appearance to the' sleigh. l

Another advantage of the space e is, that by means vof it the bottom boards conceal the inner lower edge of the side of the body, and the tacks whichl conne the upholstering to such side., f

As this concealment is accomplished without trouble, other than toI place the sleigh-body in its proper position, the latter may be taken o at any time without troublel or injury. Other' advantages resulting from them, applying the bottom' to the side rail, will manifest themselves to persons familiar with the manufacture of sleighs. Y

By the above construction of parts, I claim that I form, substantially, a truss-frame,- to resist any lateral thrust or concussion to which a sleigh is subject, while it will be apparent that, as the bottom Iis applied to theupper surface of theside rails, and the l cross-bars, that breakage, or loosening, or misplacement of the flooring is impossible, while the Whole sleighbottom is vastly stronger and more durable than atpresent constructed.

Cla/im.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- Theimproved construction of sleigh-bodies as herein represented and explained', that is,the employment of the stringere 'c c, applied in connection with vthe side rails ma, and the .cross-bars b'b, and supporting upon their upper surfaces the bottom boards ll d, Snc., the latter being so applied to the side rails a a as to leave the jog or space @,and the whole being arranged in manner and.' productive of advantages as hereinb'efore referred to and shown. l

A S. R. BAILEY.

Witnesses:

FRED. CURTIS,

Gno. A. Lonnie. 

